NFC Notes: Lions, Packers, Vikings

Lions

Lions RB DeAndre Swift said he would not mind if the team signed free agent RB Todd Gurley.

“Knowledge. Experience,” Swift said, via Lions Wire. “I’d be happy if he come here as well. I just want to compete with these guys. Just to have him in the building, that’d be good.”

Gurley visited with the Lions last week. 

Packers

Packers’ RB Aaron Jones says it is clear that QB Jordan Love already looks better during practice than he did during his rookie season.

“You can tell he’s a lot more comfortable out there. From communicating in the huddle to the command of the huddle, everything. He’s had a year under his belt, he’s had time to watch and learn, so you can tell it’s a little bit different than it was before. He’s going to continue to grow and I’m happy to be here working with him,” Jones said, via Pro Football Talk.

Vikings

Vikings LB Cameron Smith missed all of 2020 after undergoing open-heart surgery last offseason to repair a bicuspid aortic valve. He was cleared to play in 2021 and describes getting the news from doctors.  

“I went out to Philadelphia the beginning of March and did another follow up, another CAT scan, another echo(cardiogram) and when the surgeon looked at me, it was like I nailed it, crushed it, you’re good on our end,” Smith said, via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. “When he said that, I felt like wow, what a great feeling.”

Smith said he was excited to return for Monday’s practice and it felt like he “hadn’t missed a beat.” 

“It was interesting because leading up to this, I was unsure what the feeling was going to be like,” said Smith. “I was excited to feel that again, but when it came down to running out there, it felt like I hadn’t missed a beat. It just felt like almost home again.”

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook is happy to see Smith back with the team and feels it’s “a miracle” he’s playing again. 

“We prayed for Cam so much, and he’s back here now, and it’s a miracle,” Cook said. “That’s God that he’s out there with us running around. I’m happy for him.”